This message is an intercept that indicates the call cannot be completed as dialed, and it serves as an indication that there may be various issues with the number or the service itself.
Typically, this occurs when a phone number is disconnected, temporarily out of service, or entered incorrectly.
I understand it is important to ensure that the correct country code and number format are used when dialing, especially in an international context.
Technical issues can also be a culprit, such as a service provider’s network being down or the recipient’s phone being switched off or out of range.
I advise checking the number, verifying connectivity, and reaching out to the service provider if the issue persists.
Whether it’s a simple misdial or a more complex service interruption, there are steps one can take to understand and potentially resolve the issue at hand.
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While we say that this is how you can fix “the number you have dialed is not in service” error message, there is generally no permanent fix but instead, you can take these actions:
One of the main reasons why you get “the number you have dialed is not in service” error message when you dial is because the subscriber has activated call forwarding for that number and it is possible that the number on which it is forwarded is no longer in service which might give you this error message.
If that’s the case, make sure that you check your phone and see if there is any indication that the call has been forwarded which would easily show on your iPhone or Android.
If Call Forwarding is not active then you might try the other steps mentioned below.
Well, the next thing you can do is to wait. Yes, that is simply the best thing you can do in this situation because it could be that the subscriber is currently in an area where the network is poor or the network is jammed which is why the call is not going through.
Make sure to try calling the same number after a few minutes, some hours or even after a few days (if you can wait) to see if the call goes through this time.
We have also noticed that a lot of people dial the wrong number. For example, let’s say that the number you are trying to dial is 800-819-9373 but due to some mistake, you have dialed the number as 800-891-9373.
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Did you notice where the mistake was made?
As you can see, it is very hard to see where the mistake was made and this is the reason why a lot of people dial the wrong number and keep trying it in hopes that it would connect but the fact is that this is an invalid number so it would not connect even if you try for years unless someone else has this number.
One thing you can always do, if you encounter this error message, is to ask for the number again from the person you got it the first time so as to make sure that the number you dialed was correct and even let them know that you are getting this error message on their number.
If this method works for you then great but if you can’t get the number once again then you only have the option of asking the service provider from the method mentioned below.
As a last resort, what we can do is ask the service provider who that particular number belongs to as they must know if that number is incorrect, out of service, or if the bill is not paid.
In this section, I address common concerns and offer clarity regarding instances when you might hear “The number you have dialed is not in service” upon attempting a call.
If you hear this message, it’s likely the number is no longer allocated for use. This can be due to the number being deactivated by the carrier or changed by the owner.
First, verify the number was dialed correctly. If it was correct and you still can’t connect, the number might be deactivated. You can try calling at a different time or reaching out to the individual through an alternative method if possible.
A disconnected number may produce an error message like “The number you have dialed is not in service”. To ascertain the status, you can also check with the carrier or attempt calling at a later time.
This could indicate the phone number was recently deactivated or there is a temporary service issue. The line might’ve been reassigned if not in use for a certain period.
Yes, ‘not in service’ means the number is inactive, while ‘out of the calling area’ suggests the dialed number can’t be reached due to geographical or carrier restrictions.
Sometimes, fraudsters spoof caller ID, displaying a ‘not in service’ number to evade detection. If you receive unsolicited calls that hang up quickly or leave no message, they may be using this technique.
Eric Pascarello from Pascarello.com has been the Senior Editor for TechNerdish since quite some time now and he regularly shares how passionate he is about new technology with everyone via this blog.